“Eight held following raids in Walsall and Sandwell over EDL protest violence” (updated)

Police swooped on homes across the Black Country today, including two addresses in Walsall, to arrest people suspected of violent disorder during a protest in the town by the EDL.

Police arrest a suspect following violent disorder that erupted during an EDL protest in Walsall

Eight men aged between 17 and 59 were arrested during the early morning raids.

Police also seized items of clothing.

It comes after violence erupted in Walsall town centre on September 29 during the English Defence League demonstration.

Officers today swooped on homes across the region including Eagleworks Drive in Walsall and a home in Brownhills.

Homes in Walker Street and Alexandra Road in Tipton were targeted, as well as Coles Lane in West Bromwich, Greswold Street in Hateley Heath and an address in Acocks Green.

Officers have been scouring hours of CCTV footage under Operation Spinnekar since the violence broke out.

Suspects were being interviewed today.

Police officers based in Walsall arrest a man in Walker Street, Tipton, as part of investigations into violence surrounding the EDL

Det Insp Pete Dunn, from Force CID, said: “We have viewed a significant amount of CCTV footage and media footage with view to finding the people responsible.

“Since September we have been working to identify others who were involved in the disorder and now we are in a position to make further arrests, whilst appealing for information to identify other suspects we are yet to trace.”

During last September’s protest, in Leicester Street, a number of police officers and protestors suffered minor injuries.

Around 900 police officers were in the town centre as the protest took place, alongside a counter protest in Gallery Square. Thirty people were arrested on the day.

A total of 27 people have since been charged with public order offences.